Chapter 696: Inside and Outside the City
Manbao pasted the white paper, then squatted beside Bai Shan and ground it, requesting: "I want my word Zhou to be written a little bigger."
Bai Shan said it was no problem. He chose a pen, dipped it in ink and wrote a particularly neat and beautiful character "Zhou" on the top, then wrote the name of Jishidiang after a stroke.
Madoka: ...How can it be written like that?
However, he took a look and found that it looked pretty good, so he ran to get the other two signs and said, "Master Bai, please write these two signs for our family as well."
Bai Shan finished writing and looked at his handwriting with satisfaction. He took the two plaques graciously and asked, "Besides Doctor Ji, who is the other doctor?"
Xiaoyuan: "It belongs to our shopkeeper."
Manbao helped to paste the paper. Bai Shan put down his pen to help and asked, "Isn't Doctor Xiaoji coming?"
"Doctor Xiao Ji needs to look after the shop," Xiao Yuan said in a low voice after looking around. "Our shopkeeper said that most of these refugees have several illnesses mixed together, but the county government only has a limited prescription. So how to treat them and to what extent is very important. I'm afraid Doctor Xiao Ji lacks experience, so he won't be here for the time being."
Xiao Yuan looked at Man Bao and said, "Miss Man, the shopkeeper said that if you can't find a substitute medicine when you prescribe, why don't you write a note and hand it over. I will help you pass it on to Doctor Ji and the shopkeeper for reference."
Manbao said it was no problem.
If the medicine prescribed is not the one on the medicine list, it will not be of much significance to the patient.
Because those who can afford medicine basically won't be reluctant to spend those few cents on medical treatment.
It was almost evening and dark when everyone finished all the work. Manbao then supported her waist and climbed into the carriage and sat down.
Wei Ting followed the recruited refugees to move things, and he felt as if his hands and feet were not his own.
He also climbed into his own carriage. He didn't even have the energy to talk to Bai Shan. He just waved and left.
Bai Shan sat down next to Man Bao, took another look at the neatly arranged wooden sheds outside, nodded with satisfaction and said, "Not bad, do you need my help after school tomorrow?"
Mr. Zhuang, who had gotten into the car early, rubbed his lower back and said, "Come on, since you can read, you can help count the herbs."
He sighed and said, "Don't you see that some people are already waiting here? I'm afraid we'll be busy tomorrow."
Manbao turned his head to look outside and saw that there were already many people sitting on the roadside. Some of them were in rags and simply covered themselves with a pile of hay, while others covered themselves with a loose piece of clothing or huddled in a tattered quilt.
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang also turned their heads to look outside the car and fell silent for a moment.
Mr. Zhuang also looked out the window, silent until he entered the city. The people on the road disappeared, and once he entered the city, he saw a bustling scene.
Some shops had lit lanterns at their doors, which, together with the crescent moon in the sky, barely illuminated the street, and the carriage swayed as it moved forward.
The further we go, the more pedestrians there are on the road, but much fewer than during the day. They are all people who come out to play or drink at night.
A heavy bell rang. This was the bell for the city gate to close. It would ring twelve times. At the eleventh ring, the city gate began to close. By the twelfth ring, the city gate was almost completely closed.
There will be a period of time between the bells to give people time to react.
None of the people waiting along the road outside the city came in.
A city gate separates people from two worlds. However, it was a passive separation before, but today, people outside the city take the initiative to not enter the city.
The three of them were young after all, and although they were in a heavy mood, it only lasted for a moment before they were quickly distracted by the hustle and bustle of the street.
Mr. Zhuang just kept looking at the hustle and bustle outside the window in silence.
Manbao noticed that Mr. was in a bad mood and couldn't help asking, "Mr., what's wrong with you?"
Mr. Zhuang withdrew his gaze and looked at the three students who were looking at him with concern. He said, "This teacher is reminded of my youth. At that time, the gates of Yizhou City were open all night long. Unless there was a war, they would never be closed."
The three were surprised, "Is there any city gate that is not closed?"
Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, "Of course, in big cities like Yizhou, Taiyuan, and Luoyang, the gates are usually open all day long. They only close the market towns and prohibit the movement of residents. Only medium-sized and small cities close their gates to prevent thieves."
Manbao: "When did Yizhou City start to close its gates?"
"It was about ten years ago. By now, the people of Yizhou City and the merchants who come and go have gotten used to it." Mr. Zhuang looked out the window with a complicated expression and said softly, "I didn't think there was anything wrong with closing the city gates before, but just now, it suddenly occurred to me that once the gates are closed, the inside and outside of the city become two different worlds. But it's strange. Whether inside or outside the city, isn't it all the territory of our Great Jin?"
Manbao and Baishan didn't say anything, and Bai Erlang didn't know what to say, so the car became quiet.
When the four masters and apprentices were in silence, the carriage stopped. Daji jumped out of the carriage, opened the curtain and said, "Sir, Master, we are home."
Mr. Zhuang smiled and waved, saying, "Get out of the car."
Bai Erlang, who was sitting outside, jumped off the carriage first, and then he smelled the delicious aroma of meat. Bai Shan and Manbao jumped down next, and then turned around to help the gentleman down.
The four masters and apprentices all smelled the aroma of meat.
Zhou Silang, who heard the noise, ran out of the kitchen. Seeing them, he smiled and said, "You are finally back. I was wondering whether I should go look for you."
"Fourth brother, what smells so good?"
"Oh, it's mutton," Zhou Silang said proudly, his eyes narrowed with laughter. "On my way back, I met some merchants from the Western Regions. They drove a batch of sheep over, and a few of them had broken legs, so they killed them and sold them. I thought the meat was good, so I bought a lot and cooked it with some spices. Now that the weather is cool, it's the best time to eat mutton."
Manbao ran into the kitchen and saw Aunt Rong cooking, while Zhou Lijun was squatting on the ground making a fire. There was a half-chopped leg of lamb on the chopping board beside him. It was obvious that Zhou Silang was responsible for this job.
Aunt Rong saw the three young masters running into the kitchen and immediately drove them away, "Get out quickly, the kitchen is too full."
Seeing the three of them staring at the gurgling pot, he smiled and said, "The hot water is ready. Master and Miss, wash up first. Once you're done, the food will be ready."
She said, "Actually, the food has already been heated up, but you guys never came back. Master Zhou Si brought back two large lamb legs, so I thought I'd just give you another big dish. It's just right that you guys have been busy these days, so you can catch up."
Manbao nodded repeatedly, "The weather is getting colder, it's time to put on some weight."
Bai Shan couldn't help but look at her, "You think you are a cow, it's autumn dryness, so it's better to eat less mutton."
Bai Erlang said, "Then eat less. I'll eat your portion for you."
Manbao: "I'll eat it for you too."
Bai Shan snorted and said, "No, thank you!"
Good night
(End of this chapter)
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